Systems and methods for maintaining a sitemap

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods including one or more processors and one or more non-transitory storage devices storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processors and cause the one or more processors to perform functions comprising: tracking interaction data for one or more webpages of a website; determining a content score for the one or more webpages of the website; determining a link equity score for the one or more webpages of the website; classifying the one or more webpages of the website into one or more classifications using the interaction data, the content score, and the link equity score; and removing the one or more webpages from a sitemap of the website based on the one or more classifications. Other embodiments are disclosed herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to managing a website and moreparticularly to maintaining a s sitemap of webpages for the website.

BACKGROUND

Websites are a backbone of modern communication technologies, but manytimes a specific website can be difficult to find. This is especiallytrue for individual webpages within a website (e.g., an item webpagewithin a larger eCommerce website) because these webpages often havevarious paths, parameters, hashes, and other long strings of charactersappended after the domain name. Due to this problem with complex uniformresource locators (URLs), many users of websites locate individualwebpages they want to visit using a search engine to search for keywordsin the webpage. Search engines then use a variety of metrics andalgorithms to provide a user with a ranked list of webpages based onthese keywords.

While most search engine algorithms are confidential, it is known thatwebpages listed in a sitemap for a website are more likely to be indexedby web crawlers run by a search engine server. This is especiallyapplicable to higher quality webpages because they are ranked higherthan lower quality webpages. A higher ranking, in turn, leads to moreusers finding and eventually navigating to the website.

In view of the above, there is a need for a system and methodidentifying and removing one or more low quality webpages from asitemap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To facilitate further description of the embodiments, the followingdrawings are provided in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front elevational view of a computer system that issuitable for implementing various embodiments of the systems disclosedin FIGS. 3 and 5 ;

FIG. 2 illustrates a representative block diagram of an example of theelements included in the circuit boards inside a chassis of the computersystem of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 illustrates a representative block diagram of a system, accordingto an embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart for a method, according to certainembodiments; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a representative block diagram of a system, accordingto an additional embodiment.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figuresillustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions anddetails of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Additionally, elementsin the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example,the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodimentsof the present disclosure. The same reference numerals in differentfigures denote the same elements.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in thedescription and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishingbetween similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particularsequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the termsso used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such thatthe embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operationin sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variationsthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises alist of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but mayinclude other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process,method, system, article, device, or apparatus.

The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,”“under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, areused for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describingpermanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms soused are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that theembodiments of the apparatus, methods, and/or articles of manufacturedescribed herein are, for example, capable of operation in otherorientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.

The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the likeshould be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or moreelements mechanically and/or otherwise. Two or more electrical elementsmay be electrically coupled together, but not be mechanically orotherwise coupled together. Coupling may be for any length of time,e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant. “Electricalcoupling” and the like should be broadly understood and includeelectrical coupling of all types. The absence of the word “removably,”“removable,” and the like near the word “coupled,” and the like does notmean that the coupling, etc. in question is or is not removable.

As defined herein, two or more elements are “integral” if they arecomprised of the same piece of material. As defined herein, two or moreelements are “non-integral” if each is comprised of a different piece ofmaterial.

As defined herein, “real-time” can, in some embodiments, be defined withrespect to operations carried out as soon as practically possible uponoccurrence of a triggering event. A triggering event can include receiptof data necessary to execute a task or to otherwise process information.Because of delays inherent in transmission and/or in computing speeds,the term “real time” encompasses operations that occur in “near” realtime or somewhat delayed from a triggering event. In a number ofembodiments, “real time” can mean real time less a time delay forprocessing (e.g., determining) and/or transmitting data. The particulartime delay can vary depending on the type and/or amount of the data, theprocessing speeds of the hardware, the transmission capability of thecommunication hardware, the transmission distance, etc. However, in manyembodiments, the time delay can be less than approximately one second,two seconds, five seconds, or ten seconds.

As defined herein, “approximately” can, in some embodiments, mean withinplus or minus ten percent of the stated value. In other embodiments,“approximately” can mean within plus or minus five percent of the statedvalue. In further embodiments, “approximately” can mean within plus orminus three percent of the stated value. In yet other embodiments,“approximately” can mean within plus or minus one percent of the statedvalue.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS

A number of embodiments can include a system. The system can include oneor more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readablestorage devices storing computing instructions. The computinginstructions can be configured to run on the one or more processors andcause the one or more processors to perform functions comprising:tracking interaction data for one or more webpages of a website;determining a content score for the one or more webpages of the website;determining a link equity score for the one or more webpages of thewebsite; classifying the one or more webpages of the website into one ormore classifications using the interaction data, the content score, andthe link equity score; and removing the one or more webpages from asitemap of the website based on the one or more classifications.

Various embodiments include a method. The method can be implemented viaexecution of computing instructions configured to run at one or moreprocessors and configured to be stored at non-transitorycomputer-readable media The method can comprise tracking interactiondata for one or more webpages of a website; determining a content scorefor the one or more webpages of the website; determining a link equityscore for the one or more webpages of the website; classifying the oneor more webpages of the website into one or more classifications usingthe interaction data, the content score, and the link equity score; andremoving the one or more webpages from a sitemap of the website based onthe one or more classifications.

Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of acomputer system 100, all of which or a portion of which can be suitablefor (i) implementing part or all of one or more embodiments of thetechniques, methods, and systems and/or (ii) implementing and/oroperating part or all of one or more embodiments of the memory storagemodules described herein. As an example, a different or separate one ofa chassis 102 (and its internal components) can be suitable forimplementing part or all of one or more embodiments of the techniques,methods, and/or systems described herein. Furthermore, one or moreelements of computer system 100 (e.g., a monitor 106, a keyboard 104,and/or a mouse 110, etc.) also can be appropriate for implementing partor all of one or more embodiments of the techniques, methods, and/orsystems described herein. Computer system 100 can comprise chassis 102containing one or more circuit boards (not shown), a Universal SerialBus (USB) port 112, a Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM) and/orDigital Video Disc (DVD) drive 116, and a hard drive 114. Arepresentative block diagram of the elements included on the circuitboards inside chassis 102 is shown in FIG. 2 . A central processing unit(CPU) 210 in FIG. 2 is coupled to a system bus 214 in FIG. 2 . Invarious embodiments, the architecture of CPU 210 can be compliant withany of a variety of commercially distributed architecture families.

Continuing with FIG. 2 , system bus 214 also is coupled to a memorystorage unit 208, where memory storage unit 208 can comprise (i)non-volatile memory, such as, for example, read only memory (ROM) and/or(ii) volatile memory, such as, for example, random access memory (RAM).The non-volatile memory can be removable and/or non-removablenon-volatile memory. Meanwhile, RAM can include dynamic RAM (DRAM),static RAM (SRAM), etc. Further, ROM can include mask-programmed ROM,programmable ROM (PROM), one-time programmable ROM (OTP), erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasableprogrammable ROM (EEPROM) (e.g., electrically alterable ROM (EAROM)and/or flash memory), etc. In these or other embodiments, memory storageunit 208 can comprise (i) non-transitory memory and/or (ii) transitorymemory.

In many embodiments, all or a portion of memory storage unit 208 can bereferred to as memory storage module(s) and/or memory storage device(s).In various examples, portions of the memory storage module(s) of thevarious embodiments disclosed herein (e.g., portions of the non-volatilememory storage module(s)) can be encoded with a boot code sequencesuitable for restoring computer system 100 (FIG. 1 ) to a functionalstate after a system reset. In addition, portions of the memory storagemodule(s) of the various embodiments disclosed herein (e.g., portions ofthe non-volatile memory storage module(s)) can comprise microcode suchas a Basic Input-Output System (BIOS) operable with computer system 100(FIG. 1 ). In the same or different examples, portions of the memorystorage module(s) of the various embodiments disclosed herein (e.g.,portions of the non-volatile memory storage module(s)) can comprise anoperating system, which can be a software program that manages thehardware and software resources of a computer and/or a computer network.The BIOS can initialize and test components of computer system 100 (FIG.1 ) and load the operating system. Meanwhile, the operating system canperform basic tasks such as, for example, controlling and allocatingmemory, prioritizing the processing of instructions, controlling inputand output devices, facilitating networking, and managing files.Exemplary operating systems can comprise one of the following: (i)Microsoft® Windows® operating system (OS) by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond,Wash., United States of America, (ii) Mac® OS X by Apple Inc. ofCupertino, Calif., United States of America, (iii) UNIX® OS, and (iv)Linux® OS. Further exemplary operating systems can comprise one of thefollowing: (i) the iOS® operating system by Apple Inc. of Cupertino,Calif., United States of America, (ii) the Blackberry® operating systemby Research In Motion (RIM) of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, (iii) theWebOS operating system by LG Electronics of Seoul, South Korea, (iv) theAndroid™ operating system developed by Google, of Mountain View, Calif.,United States of America, (v) the Windows Mobile™ operating system byMicrosoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash., United States of America, or (vi) theSymbian™ operating system by Accenture PLC of Dublin, Ireland.

As used herein, “processor” and/or “processing module” means any type ofcomputational circuit, such as but not limited to a microprocessor, amicrocontroller, a controller, a complex instruction set computing(CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instruction set computing (RISC)microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, agraphics processor, a digital signal processor, or any other type ofprocessor or processing circuit capable of performing the desiredfunctions. In some examples, the one or more processing modules of thevarious embodiments disclosed herein can comprise CPU 210.

Alternatively, or in addition to, the systems and procedures describedherein can be implemented in hardware, or a combination of hardware,software, and/or firmware. For example, one or more application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs) can be programmed to carry out one or moreof the systems and procedures described herein. For example, one or moreof the programs and/or executable program components described hereincan be implemented in one or more ASICs. In many embodiments, anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC) can comprise one or moreprocessors or microprocessors and/or memory blocks or memory storage.

In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 2 , various I/O devices such as adisk controller 204, a graphics adapter 224, a video controller 202, akeyboard adapter 226, a mouse adapter 206, a network adapter 220, andother I/O devices 222 can be coupled to system bus 214. Keyboard adapter226 and mouse adapter 206 are coupled to keyboard 104 (FIGS. 1-2 ) andmouse 110 (FIGS. 1-2 ), respectively, of computer system 100 (FIG. 1 ).While graphics adapter 224 and video controller 202 are indicated asdistinct units in FIG. 2 , video controller 202 can be integrated intographics adapter 224, or vice versa in other embodiments. Videocontroller 202 is suitable for monitor 106 (FIGS. 1-2 ) to displayimages on a screen 108 (FIG. 1 ) of computer system 100 (FIG. 1 ). Diskcontroller 204 can control hard drive 114 (FIGS. 1-2 ), USB port 112(FIGS. 1-2 ), and CD-ROM drive 116 (FIGS. 1-2 ). In other embodiments,distinct units can be used to control each of these devices separately.

Network adapter 220 can be suitable to connect computer system 100 (FIG.1 ) to a computer network by wired communication (e.g., a wired networkadapter) and/or wireless communication (e.g., a wireless networkadapter). In some embodiments, network adapter 220 can be plugged orcoupled to an expansion port (not shown) in computer system 100 (FIG. 1). In other embodiments, network adapter 220 can be built into computersystem 100 (FIG. 1 ). For example, network adapter 220 can be built intocomputer system 100 (FIG. 1 ) by being integrated into the motherboardchipset (not shown), or implemented via one or more dedicatedcommunication chips (not shown), connected through a PCI (peripheralcomponent interconnector) or a PCI express bus of computer system 100(FIG. 1 ) or USB port 112 (FIG. 1 ).

Returning now to FIG. 1 , although many other components of computersystem 100 are not shown, such components and their interconnection arewell known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, furtherdetails concerning the construction and composition of computer system100 and the circuit boards inside chassis 102 are not discussed herein.

Meanwhile, when computer system 100 is running, program instructions(e.g., computer instructions) stored on one or more of the memorystorage module(s) of the various embodiments disclosed herein can beexecuted by CPU 210 (FIG. 2 ). At least a portion of the programinstructions, stored on these devices, can be suitable for carrying outat least part of the techniques and methods described herein.

Further, although computer system 100 is illustrated as a desktopcomputer in FIG. 1 , there can be examples where computer system 100 maytake a different form factor while still having functional elementssimilar to those described for computer system 100. In some embodiments,computer system 100 may comprise a single computer, a single server, ora cluster or collection of computers or servers, or a cloud of computersor servers. Typically, a cluster or collection of servers can be usedwhen the demand on computer system 100 exceeds the reasonable capabilityof a single server or computer. In certain embodiments, computer system100 may comprise a portable computer, such as a laptop computer. Incertain other embodiments, computer system 100 may comprise a mobileelectronic device, such as a smartphone. In certain additionalembodiments, computer system 100 may comprise an embedded system.

Turning ahead in the drawings, FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of asystem 300 that can be employed for improved online predictions, asdescribed in greater detail below. System 300 is merely exemplary andembodiments of the system are not limited to the embodiments presentedherein. System 300 can be employed in many different embodiments orexamples not specifically depicted or described herein.

In some embodiments, certain elements or modules of system 300 canperform various procedures, processes, and/or activities. In these orother embodiments, the procedures, processes, and/or activities can beperformed by other suitable elements or modules of system 300.

Generally, therefore, system 300 can be implemented with hardware and/orsoftware, as described herein. In some embodiments, part or all of thehardware and/or software can be conventional, while in these or otherembodiments, part or all of the hardware and/or software can becustomized (e.g., optimized) for implementing part or all of thefunctionality of system 300 described herein.

In some embodiments, system 300 can include a web server 310 (or morethan one web server), a user computer 330 (or more than one usercomputers), and/or a search engine server 340 (or more than one searchengine server). In many embodiments, user computer 330, and/or searchengine server 340 can be external to system 300. Web server 310, usercomputer 330, and/or search engine server 340 can each be a computersystem, such as computer system 100 (FIG. 1 ), as described above, andcan each be a single computer, a single server, or a cluster orcollection of computers or servers, or a cloud of computers or servers.In another embodiment, a single computer system can host each of two ormore of web server 310, user computer 330, and/or search engine server340. Additional details regarding web server 310, user computer 330,and/or search engine server 340 are described herein.

User computer 330 can comprise any of the elements described in relationto computer system 100. In some embodiments, user computer 330 can bemobile devices. A mobile electronic device can refer to a portableelectronic device (e.g., an electronic device easily conveyable by handby a person of average size) with the capability to present audio and/orvisual data (e.g., text, images, videos, music, etc.). For example, amobile electronic device can comprise at least one of a digital mediaplayer, a cellular telephone (e.g., a smartphone), a personal digitalassistant, a handheld digital computer device (e.g., a tablet personalcomputer device), a laptop computer device (e.g., a notebook computerdevice, a netbook computer device), a wearable user computer device, oranother portable computer device with the capability to present audioand/or visual data (e.g., images, videos, music, etc.). Thus, in manyexamples, a mobile electronic device can comprise a volume and/or weightsufficiently small as to permit the mobile electronic device to beeasily conveyable by hand. For examples, in some embodiments, a mobileelectronic device can occupy a volume of less than or equal toapproximately 1790 cubic centimeters, 2434 cubic centimeters, 2876 cubiccentimeters, 4056 cubic centimeters, and/or 5752 cubic centimeters.Further, in these embodiments, a mobile electronic device can weigh lessthan or equal to 15.6 Newtons, 17.8 Newtons, 22.3 Newtons, 31.2 Newtons,and/or 44.5 Newtons. In various embodiments, user computer 330 cancomprise a display that is smaller than monitor 106 (FIG. 1 ), therebyfacilitating mobility.

Exemplary mobile electronic devices can comprise (i) an iPod®, iPhone®,iTouch®, iPad®, MacBook® or similar product by Apple Inc. of Cupertino,Calif., United States of America, (ii) a Blackberry® or similar productby Research in Motion (RIM) of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, (iii) a Lumia®or similar product by the Nokia Corporation of Keilaniemi, Espoo,Finland, and/or (iv) a Galaxy™ or similar product by the Samsung Groupof Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea. Further, in the same or differentembodiments, a mobile electronic device can comprise an electronicdevice configured to implement one or more of (i) the iPhone® operatingsystem by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., United States of America,(ii) the Blackberry® operating system by Research In Motion (RIM) ofWaterloo, Ontario, Canada, (iii) the Palm® operating system by Palm,Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif., United States, (iv) the Android™ operatingsystem developed by the Open Handset Alliance, (v) the Windows Mobile™operating system by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash., United States ofAmerica, or (vi) the Symbian™ operating system by Nokia Corp. ofKeilaniemi, Espoo, Finland.

Further still, the term “wearable user computer device” as used hereincan refer to an electronic device with the capability to present audioand/or visual data (e.g., text, images, videos, music, etc.) that isconfigured to be worn by a user and/or mountable (e.g., fixed) on theuser of the wearable user computer device (e.g., sometimes under or overclothing; and/or sometimes integrated with and/or as clothing and/oranother accessory, such as, for example, a hat, eyeglasses, a wristwatch, shoes, etc.). In many examples, a wearable user computer devicecan comprise a mobile electronic device, and vice versa. However, awearable user computer device does not necessarily comprise a mobileelectronic device, and vice versa.

In specific examples, a wearable user computer device can comprise ahead mountable wearable user computer device (e.g., one or more headmountable displays, one or more eyeglasses, one or more contact lenses,one or more retinal displays, etc.) or a limb mountable wearable usercomputer device (e.g., a smart watch). In these examples, a headmountable wearable user computer device can be mountable in closeproximity to one or both eyes of a user of the head mountable wearableuser computer device and/or vectored in alignment with a field of viewof the user.

In more specific examples, a head mountable wearable user computerdevice can comprise (i) Google Glass™ product or a similar product byGoogle Inc. of Menlo Park, Calif., United States of America; (ii) theEye Tap™ product, the Laser Eye Tap™ product, or a similar product byePI Lab of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and/or (iii) the Raptyr™ product,the STAR 1200™ product, the Vuzix Smart Glasses M100™ product, or asimilar product by Vuzix Corporation of Rochester, N.Y., United Statesof America. In other specific examples, a head mountable wearable usercomputer device can comprise the Virtual Retinal Display™ product, orsimilar product by the University of Washington of Seattle, Wash.,United States of America. Meanwhile, in further specific examples, alimb mountable wearable user computer device can comprise the iWatch™product, or similar product by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., UnitedStates of America, the Galaxy Gear or similar product of Samsung Groupof Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea, the Moto 360 product or similarproduct of Motorola of Schaumburg, Ill., United States of America,and/or the Zip™ product, One™ product, Flex™ product, Charge™ product,Surge™ product, or similar product by Fitbit Inc. of San Francisco,Calif., United States of America.

In many embodiments, system 300 can comprise graphical user interface(“GUI”) 350. In the same or different embodiments, GUI 350 can be partof and/or displayed by user computer 330, which also can be part ofsystem 300. In various embodiments, each user computer can have multipleGUIs. In some embodiments, GUI 350 can comprise text and/or graphics(image) based user interfaces. In the same or different embodiments, GUI350 can comprise a heads up display (“HUD”). When GUI 350 comprises aHUD, GUI 350 can be projected onto a medium (e.g., glass, plastic,etc.), displayed in midair as a hologram, or displayed on a display(e.g., monitor 106 (FIG. 1 )). In various embodiments, GUI 350 can becolor, black and white, and/or greyscale. In many embodiments, GUI 350can comprise an application running on a computer system, such ascomputer system 100 (FIG. 1 ), web server 310, user computer 330, and/orsearch engine server 340. In the same or different embodiments, GUI 350can comprise a website accessed through internet 320. In someembodiments, GUI 350 can comprise an eCommerce website. In these orother embodiments, GUI 350 can comprise an administrative (e.g., backend) GUI allowing an administrator to modify and/or change one or moresettings in system 300. In the same or different embodiments, GUI 350can be displayed as or on a virtual reality (VR) and/or augmentedreality (AR) system or display. In some embodiments, an interaction witha GUI can comprise a click, a look, a selection, a grab, a view, apurchase, a bid, a swipe, a pinch, a reverse pinch, etc.

In some embodiments, web server 310, user computer 330, and/or searchengine server 340 can be in data communication with each other throughInternet 320. In certain embodiments, user computer 330 can be desktopcomputers, laptop computers, smart phones, tablet devices, and/or otherendpoint devices. In various embodiments, web server 310 can host one ormore websites. For example, web server 310 can host an eCommerce websitethat allows users to browse and/or search for products, to add productsto an electronic shopping cart, and/or to purchase products, in additionto other suitable activities. In many embodiments, web server 310 canalso be configured to generate one or more search engine marketingcampaigns, as described in further detail below. For example, web server310 can be configured to bid on search engine marking auctions managedby search engine server 340 and/or provide content to search engineserver 340 for display in response to searches for keywords.

In some embodiments search engine server 340 can receive and processsearches requested by user computer 330 and/or run one or more webcrawlers to index web server 310. Generally speaking, search engineserver 340 can run one or more web crawling programs configured tonavigate, analyze, and index various websites. For example, a webcrawler can index one or more webpages in an eCommerce website hosted onweb server 310. In various embodiments, an analysis performed by searchengine server 340 can determine a score and/or a rank for a webpage inconnection with one or more keywords. This score or rank, then, dictatesin which search result slot the webpage is shown, in response to asearch for the keyword(s). In some embodiments, a web crawler can locatewebpages to analyze by consulting a sitemap for the website.

In many embodiments, web server 310, user computer 330, and/or searchengine server 340 can each comprise one or more input devices (e.g., oneor more keyboards, one or more keypads, one or more pointing devicessuch as a computer mouse or computer mice, one or more touchscreendisplays, a microphone, etc.), and/or can each comprise one or moredisplay devices (e.g., one or more monitors, one or more touch screendisplays, projectors, etc.). In these or other embodiments, one or moreof the input device(s) can be similar or identical to keyboard 104 (FIG.1 ) and/or a mouse 110 (FIG. 1 ). Further, one or more of the displaydevice(s) can be similar or identical to monitor 106 (FIG. 1 ) and/orscreen 108 (FIG. 1 ). The input device(s) and the display device(s) canbe coupled to the processing module(s) and/or the memory storagemodule(s) of web server 310, user computer 330, and/or search engineserver 340 in a wired manner and/or a wireless manner, and the couplingcan be direct and/or indirect, as well as locally and/or remotely. As anexample of an indirect manner (which may or may not also be a remotemanner), a keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) switch can be used to couple theinput device(s) and the display device(s) to the processing module(s)and/or the memory storage module(s). In some embodiments, the KVM switchalso can be part of web server 310, user computer 330, and/or searchengine server 340. In a similar manner, the processing module(s) and thememory storage module(s) can be local and/or remote to each other.

Internet 320 can be an intranet that is not open to the public. Infurther embodiments, Internet 320 can be a mesh network of individualsystems. Accordingly, in many embodiments, web server 310, (and/or thesoftware used by such systems) can refer to a back end of system 300operated by an operator and/or administrator of system 300, and usercomputer 330 (and/or the software used by such systems) can refer to afront end of system 300 used by one or more users 360, respectively. Insome embodiments, user 360 can also be referred to as a customer, inwhich case, user computer 330 can be referred to as a customer computer.In these or other embodiments, the operator and/or administrator ofsystem 300 can manage system 300, the processing module(s) of system300, and/or the memory storage module(s) of system 300 using the inputdevice(s) and/or display device(s) of system 300.

Meanwhile, in many embodiments, web server 310, user computer 330,and/or search engine server 340 also can be configured to communicatewith one or more databases. The one or more databases can comprise aproduct database that contains information about products, items, orSKUs (stock keeping units) sold by a retailer. In many embodiments, oneor more databases can comprise information about interactions of usercomputer 330 with GUI 350. For example, the one or more databases canstore past (e.g., historical) interactions of user computer 330 with GUI350. These interactions can be tied to a unique identifier (e.g., an IPaddress, an advertising ID, device ID, etc.) and/or a user account. Inembodiments where a user 360 interacts with GUIs 350 before logging intoa user account, data stored in the one or more database that isassociated with a unique identifier can be merged with and/or associatedwith data associated with the user account. In some embodiments, datacan be deleted from a database when it becomes older than a maximum age.In many embodiments, a maximum age can be determined by an administratorof system 300. In various embodiments, data collected in real-time canbe streamed to a database for storage.

In many embodiments, one or more databases can be stored on one or morememory storage modules (e.g., non-transitory memory storage module(s)),which can be similar or identical to the one or more memory storagemodule(s) (e.g., non-transitory memory storage module(s)) describedabove with respect to computer system 100 (FIG. 1 ). Also, in someembodiments, for any particular database of the one or more databases,that particular database can be stored on a single memory storage moduleof the memory storage module(s), and/or the non-transitory memorystorage module(s) storing the one or more databases or the contents ofthat particular database can be spread across multiple ones of thememory storage module(s) and/or non-transitory memory storage module(s)storing the one or more databases, depending on the size of theparticular database and/or the storage capacity of the memory storagemodule(s) and/or non-transitory memory storage module(s). In variousembodiments, databases can be stored in a cache (e.g., MegaCache) forimmediate retrieval on-demand.

The one or more databases can each comprise a structured (e.g., indexed)collection of data and can be managed by any suitable databasemanagement systems configured to define, create, query, organize,update, and manage database(s). Exemplary database management systemscan include MySQL (Structured Query Language) Database, PostgreSQLDatabase, Microsoft SQL Server Database, Oracle Database, SAP (Systems,Applications, & Products) Database, IBM DB2 Database, and/or NoSQLDatabase.

Meanwhile, communication between web server 310, user computer 330,and/or search engine server 340, and/or the one or more databases can beimplemented using any suitable manner of wired and/or wirelesscommunication. Accordingly, system 300 can comprise any software and/orhardware components configured to implement the wired and/or wirelesscommunication. Further, the wired and/or wireless communication can beimplemented using any one or any combination of wired and/or wirelesscommunication network topologies (e.g., ring, line, tree, bus, mesh,star, daisy chain, hybrid, etc.) and/or protocols (e.g., personal areanetwork (PAN) protocol(s), local area network (LAN) protocol(s), widearea network (WAN) protocol(s), cellular network protocol(s), powerlinenetwork protocol(s), etc.). Exemplary PAN protocol(s) can compriseBluetooth, Zigbee, Wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB), Z-Wave, etc.;exemplary LAN and/or WAN protocol(s) can comprise Institute ofElectrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.3 (also known asEthernet), IEEE 802.11 (also known as WiFi), etc.; and exemplarywireless cellular network protocol(s) can comprise Global System forMobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), CodeDivision Multiple Access (CDMA), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO),Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), Digital Enhanced CordlessTelecommunications (DECT), Digital AMPS (IS-136/Time Division MultipleAccess (TDMA)), Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), EvolvedHigh-Speed Packet Access (HSPA+), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), WiMAX, etc.The specific communication software and/or hardware implemented candepend on the network topologies and/or protocols implemented, and viceversa. In many embodiments, exemplary communication hardware cancomprise wired communication hardware including, for example, one ormore data buses, such as, for example, universal serial bus(es), one ormore networking cables, such as, for example, coaxial cable(s), opticalfiber cable(s), and/or twisted pair cable(s), any other suitable datacable, etc. Further exemplary communication hardware can comprisewireless communication hardware including, for example, one or moreradio transceivers, one or more infrared transceivers, etc. Additionalexemplary communication hardware can comprise one or more networkingcomponents (e.g., modulator-demodulator components, gateway components,etc.).

In many embodiments, the techniques described herein can provide apractical application and several technological improvements. In someembodiments, the techniques described herein can provide for maintaininga sitemap. These techniques described herein can provide a significantimprovement over conventional approaches of maintaining a sitemap, suchas manually removing webpages. In many embodiments, the techniquesdescribed herein can beneficially make determinations based on dynamicinformation that describes current conditions and/or conditions thathave occurred during the same day as the analysis.

In a number of embodiments, the techniques described herein can solve atechnical problem that arises only within the realm of computernetworks, as a sitemap does not exist outside the realm of computernetworks.

Turning ahead in the drawings, FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart for amethod 400, according to an embodiment. Method 400 is merely exemplaryand is not limited to the embodiments presented herein. Method 400 canbe employed in many different embodiments or examples not specificallydepicted or described herein. In some embodiments, the activities ofmethod 400 can be performed in the order presented. In otherembodiments, the activities of method 400 can be performed in anysuitable order. In still other embodiments, one or more of theactivities of method 400 can be combined or skipped. In manyembodiments, system 300 (FIG. 3 ) can be suitable to perform method 400and/or one or more of the activities of method 400. In these or otherembodiments, one or more of the activities of method 400 can beimplemented as one or more computer instructions configured to run atone or more processing modules and configured to be stored at one ormore non-transitory memory storage modules. Such non-transitory memorystorage modules can be part of a computer system such as web server 310(FIG. 3 ). The processing module(s) can be similar or identical to theprocessing module(s) described above with respect to computer system 100(FIG. 1 ).

In many embodiments, method 400 can comprise an activity 401 of trackinginteraction data for a webpage. Generally speaking, a webpage cancomprise a sub-domain, and a website can comprise a higher level domain.For example, a webpage can be for a specific item offered for sale on aneCommerce website or marketplace, while a website can be the entireeCommerce marketplace. In many embodiments, interaction data can becollected from one or more GUIs displayed on one or more user computers(e.g., GUI 350 (FIG. 3 )). In some embodiments, user interaction datacan be stored as described above with respect to system 300 (FIG. 3 ).

In many embodiments, in-session user activity can be tracked. In variousembodiments, in-session user activity can comprise interactions with aGUI that occur during a user session. For example, in-session useractivity can comprise interactions with a website during a browsingsession on the website. As another example, in-session user activity cancomprise interactions with a computer program that occur beginning fromwhen the program (e.g., the GUI or the website) is opened to when theprogram is closed. It will be understood that while many user sessionsend when a GUI is closed (e.g., by navigating away from a website orclosing a program), user sessions can persist after closure of the GUI.For example, it can be considered one user session when a user opens aGUI, closes the GUI, and then a short time later re-opens the GUI fromthe same internet browser instance and/or from the same user computer.What is considered a user session can be determined by an administratorof system 300 (FIG. 3 ) based on the specific needs or requirements ofthe system and its administrator. In many embodiments, in-session useractivity can be continually streamed to a database and/or a cache ofsystem 300 (FIG. 3 ) for storage and further processing.

In many embodiments, method 400 can comprise an activity 402 ofdetermining a content score for a webpage. In many embodiments, thewebpage of activity 402 can be the same webpage of activity 401.Generally speaking, a value of a content score for a webpage cancorrelated with a quality of content (e.g., text and/or images)displayed on the webpage. For example, a higher content score canindicate that images are high resolution on a webpage. In manyembodiments, a content score can be determined using one or more of atext analysis and/or an image analysis. In many embodiments a textanalysis can comprise a natural language processing (NLP) algorithm. Invarious embodiments, a NLP algorithm can be configured to output ametric associated with readability of text and/or grammatical structureof text. In some embodiments, a text analysis can assign a low score toan item with a bullet point description. In many embodiments, an imageanalysis can comprise checking one or more of a resolution of one ormore images on a webpage and/or a number or quantity of the one or moreimages on a webpage. In some embodiments, a higher content score can begenerated when a resolution of images and/or a number or quantity ofimages on a webpage are above their respective predetermined thresholds.

In many embodiments, method 400 can comprise an activity 403 ofdetermining a link equity score for a webpage. In many embodiments, thewebpage of activity 403 can be the same webpage of activities 401 and402. Generally speaking, webpages that are easier to navigate have ahigher link equity score. One way of increasing a navigability of awebpage is to insert links to other webpages in the same website. Anumber of different ways of calculating and/or increasing a link equityscore. One exemplary embodiment can be found in application Ser. No.17/163,490; filed Jan. 31, 2021, which is incorporated herein by thisreference in its entirety.

In many embodiments, method 400 can comprise an activity 404 ofclassifying a webpage. In many embodiments, the webpage of activity 403can be the same webpage of activities 401, 402 and 403. In variousembodiments, a webpage can be classified into one or more predictedranking ranges for a search results page. For example, a webpage can beclassified into a first ranking range comprising rankings from a firstsearch result position to a fifth search result position, a secondranking range comprising rankings after the fifth search resultposition, or a third ranking range comprising no rankings.

In many embodiments, a logistic regression can be used to classify awebpage. Generally speaking, a logistic regression can be a statisticalmodel that, in its basic form, uses a logistic function to model abinary dependent variable. A number of more complex logistic regressionsalso exist. For example, a multinomial logistic regression can be usedto classify a webpage. Generally speaking, multinomial logisticregression can be a classification method that generalizes a logisticregression to multiclass problem (e.g., a problem having more than twopossible discrete outcomes). In other words, a multinomial logisticregression can be used to predict probabilities of different possibleoutcomes (e.g., ranking ranges) of a categorically distributed dependentvariable, given a set of independent variables. In some embodiments, amultinomial logistic regression can estimate a probability of indexationby a search engine server and a likely ranking for that indexation. Alogistic regression can have a number of inputs. For example,interaction data, a content score, and a link equity score, an age ofthe one or more webpages, and pricing information for an item displayedon the one or more webpages can all be used as input for a logisticregression model. In many embodiments, when a content score increases ora page quality score increases, a probability of a higher rank canincrease and a probability of not being indexed can decrease. In someembodiments, using a logistic regression can comprise selecting a rankrange with a largest probability. In various embodiments, when an item'sinventory is out of stock, a probability of a higher rank can decreaseand a probability of not being indexed can increase. In furtherembodiments, a visit count or a link equity score increases, aprobability of a higher rank can increase and a probability of not beingindexed can decrease. In these or other embodiments, when a price ratiois too large, a probability of a higher rank can decrease and aprobability of a low or no ranking can increase.

In various embodiments, a logistic regression model can use an equationcomprising:

${{P( {{y = {i❘x}},\theta} )} = \frac{e^{\theta_{i}^{T}x}}{{\sum}_{j}^{K}e^{\theta_{j}^{T}x}}}{i = \{ {\begin{matrix}{0:{no}{ranking}} \\{1:{ranked}{from}{first}{to}{fifth}{position}} \\{2:{ranked}{after}{fifth}{position}}\end{matrix},} }$

where

50θ^(T)x=50θ₀+50θ₁age+50θ₂₁inventory(t)+50θ₂₂inventory(t−1)+50θ₃visit_count+50θ₄₁price_multiple(t)+50θ₄₂pricemultiple(t−1)+50θ₅Content_score+50θ₆link_equity

In many embodiments, θ^(T)×can comprise a vector format of a formula, θis a row vector, and X is a vector of inputs. In various embodiments, anage can comprise a number of days between a webpage create date and acurrent date (t). In some embodiments, inventory(t) can comprise abinary variable indicating whether an item is out of stock online and instore for a year. In these or other embodiments, Inventory(t−1): if outof stock online and in store for a year one month ago. In someembodiments, visit count can comprise a count of visits from uniqueusers and/or total visits to the webpage for at least one year. Infurther embodiments, price multiple(t) can comprise a minimum price in amonth divided by a maximum competitor price in the month. In manyembodiments, price multiple(t−1) can comprise the price multiple fromone month ago (i.e., the minimum price from one month ago divided by themaximum competitor price from one month ago). In some embodimentsContent score can comprise a content score for a webpage, as describedabove. In these or other embodiments, link equity can comprise a linkequity score for a webpage, as described above.

In many embodiments, method 400 can comprise an activity 405 of removinga webpage from a sitemap. In some embodiments, activity 405 can beperformed when a webpage is ranked outside of the first ranking range(e.g., the webpage has no ranking and/or is ranked after the fifthposition). In various embodiments, a webpage can be removed from asitemap by removing a URL of an item from a list and/or index ofwebpages in the sitemap.

Turning ahead in the drawings, FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of asystem 500 that can be employed for maintaining a sitemap. System 500 ismerely exemplary and embodiments of the system are not limited to theembodiments presented herein. System 500 can be employed in manydifferent embodiments or examples not specifically depicted or describedherein. In some embodiments, certain elements or modules of system 500can perform various procedures, processes, and/or activities. In theseor other embodiments, the procedures, processes, and/or activities canbe performed by other suitable elements or modules of system 500. Insome embodiments, one or more portions of system 500 can be part of orin communication with web server 310 (FIG. 3 ), search engine server 340(FIG. 3 ), and/or user computer 330. (FIG. 3 ).

Generally, therefore, system 500 can be implemented with hardware and/orsoftware, as described herein. In some embodiments, part or all of thehardware and/or software can be conventional, while in these or otherembodiments, part or all of the hardware and/or software can becustomized (e.g., optimized) for implementing part or all of thefunctionality of system 500 described herein.

In many embodiments, system 500 can comprise non-transitory memorystorage module 501. Memory storage module 501 can be referred to asinteraction data tracking module 501. In many embodiments, interactiondata tracking module 501 can store computing instructions configured torun on one or more processing modules and perform one or more acts ofmethod 400 (FIG. 4 ) (e.g., activity 401 (FIG. 4 )).

In many embodiments, system 500 can comprise non-transitory memorystorage module 502. Memory storage module 502 can be referred to ascontent score determining module 502. In many embodiments, content scoredetermining module 502 can store computing instructions configured torun on one or more processing modules and perform one or more acts ofmethod 400 (FIG. 4 ) (e.g., activity 402 (FIG. 4 )).

In many embodiments, system 500 can comprise non-transitory memorystorage module 503. Memory storage module 503 can be referred to as linkequity score determining module 503. In many embodiments, link equityscore determining module 503 can store computing instructions configuredto run on one or more processing modules and perform one or more acts ofmethod 400 (FIG. 4 ) (e.g., activity 403 (FIG. 4 )).

In many embodiments, system 500 can comprise non-transitory memorystorage module 504. Memory storage module 504 can be referred to aswebpage classifying module 504. In many embodiments, webpage classifyingmodule 504 can store computing instructions configured to run on one ormore processing modules and perform one or more acts of method 400 (FIG.4 ) (e.g., activity 404 (FIG. 4 )).

In many embodiments, system 500 can comprise non-transitory memorystorage module 505. Memory storage module 505 can be referred to aswebpage removing module 505. In many embodiments, webpage removingmodule 505 can store computing instructions configured to run on one ormore processing modules and perform one or more acts of method 400 (FIG.4 ) (e.g., activity 405 (FIG. 4 )).

Although systems and methods for maintaining a sitemap have beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, thedisclosure of embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the scope ofthe disclosure and is not intended to be limiting. It is intended thatthe scope of the disclosure shall be limited only to the extent requiredby the appended claims. For example, to one of ordinary skill in theart, it will be readily apparent that any element of FIGS. 1-5 may bemodified, and that the foregoing discussion of certain of theseembodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of allpossible embodiments. For example, one or more of the procedures,processes, or activities of FIG. 4 may include different procedures,processes, and/or activities and be performed by many different modules,in many different orders.

All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to theembodiment claimed in that particular claim. Consequently, replacementof one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and notrepair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions toproblems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. Thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elementsthat may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or becomemore pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required,or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims, unlesssuch benefits, advantages, solutions, or elements are stated in suchclaim.

Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicatedto the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/orlimitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are orare potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations inthe claims under the doctrine of equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: one or more processors; andone or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices storingcomputing instructions configured to run on the one or more processorsand cause the one or more processors to perform functions comprising:tracking interaction data for one or more webpages of a website;determining a content score for the one or more webpages of the website;determining a link equity score for the one or more webpages of thewebsite; classifying the one or more webpages of the website into one ormore classifications using the interaction data, the content score, andthe link equity score; and removing the one or more webpages from asitemap of the website based on the one or more classifications.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the one or more classifications comprise aranking range of one or more predicted ranking ranges for the one ormore webpages of the website on a search results page.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the one or more predicted ranking ranges comprise: afirst ranking range comprising rankings from a first search resultposition to a fifth search result position; a second ranking rangecomprising rankings after the fifth search result position; and a thirdranking range comprising no rankings.
 4. The system of claim 3, whereinremoving the one or more webpages from the sitemap of the website basedon the one or more classifications comprises: removing the one or morewebpages from the sitemap when the one or more webpages are classifiedin the third ranking range.
 5. The system of claim 1, whereinclassifying the one or more webpages comprises: feeding the interactiondata, the content score, and the link equity score into a logisticregression model; and classifying the one or more webpages of thewebsite into the one or more classifications using the logisticregression model.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the logisticregression model comprises a multinomial logistic regression model. 7.The system of claim 1, wherein classifying the one or more webpagescomprises: classifying the one or more webpages of the website into theone or more classifications using the interaction data, the contentscore, the link equity score, an age of the one or more webpages, andpricing information for an item displayed on the one or more webpages.8. The system of claim 1, wherein determining the content scorecomprises: determining the content score using a text analysis and animage analysis performed on the one or more webpages of the website. 9.The system of claim 8, wherein the text analysis comprises a naturallanguage processing algorithm.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein theimage analysis comprises: checking a resolution of one or more imagesdisplayed on the one or more webpages against one or more resolutionthresholds; and checking a quantity of the one or more images displayedon the one or more webpages against one or more image quantitythresholds.
 11. A method implemented via execution of computinginstructions configured to run at one or more processors and configuredto be stored at non-transitory computer-readable media, the methodcomprising: tracking interaction data for one or more webpages of awebsite; determining a content score for the one or more webpages of thewebsite; determining a link equity score for the one or more webpages ofthe website; classifying the one or more webpages of the website intoone or more classifications using the interaction data, the contentscore, and the link equity score; and removing the one or more webpagesfrom a sitemap of the website based on the one or more classifications.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more classificationscomprise a ranking range of one or more predicted ranking ranges for theone or more webpages of the website on a search results page.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the one or more predicted ranking rangescomprise: a first ranking range comprising rankings from a first searchresult position to a fifth search result position; a second rankingrange comprising rankings after the fifth search result position; and athird ranking range comprising no rankings.
 14. The method of claim 13,wherein removing the one or more webpages from the sitemap of thewebsite based on the one or more classifications comprises: removing theone or more webpages from the sitemap when the one or more webpages areclassified in the third ranking range.
 15. The method of claim 11,wherein classifying the one or more webpages comprises: feeding theinteraction data, the content score, and the link equity score into alogistic regression model; and classifying the one or more webpages ofthe website into the one or more classifications using the logisticregression model.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the logisticregression model comprises a multinomial logistic regression model. 17.The method of claim 11, wherein classifying the one or more webpagescomprises: classifying the one or more webpages of the website into theone or more classifications using the interaction data, the contentscore, the link equity score, an age of the one or more webpages, andpricing information for an item displayed on the one or more webpages.18. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the content scorecomprises: determining the content score using a text analysis and animage analysis performed on the one or more webpages of the website. 19.The method of claim 18, wherein the text analysis comprises a naturallanguage processing algorithm.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein theimage analysis comprises: checking a resolution of one or more imagesdisplayed on the one or more webpages against one or more resolutionthresholds; and checking a quantity of the one or more images displayedon the one or more webpages against one or more image quantitythresholds.